To try and defer DS entry to Reception?

[lookingforthecorkscrew]

DS (3) was born on August 31st, he currently attends a nursery attached to a primary school where there have been issues about his listening and interaction (or lack of) with other children for his 15 hours. We’ve been actively involved and on board with all the referrals the school have suggested: EP, SALT, SEN Action (and more!). DS loves nursery and we’ve definitely all seen a marked improvement in his language and ability to follow instructions since September.

But we are moving 80 miles away in the spring and have to start making some decisions about where we go from here. My preference is to place him in a private nursery for 3-4 morning sessions a week. He loves nursery and its just been so good for him. We’d have to make a late application for primary school - which isn’t terrible in that area as many good schools are undersubscribed. I’d then contact the local schools to request deferral of Reception start to Sept ‘19.

I know this isn’t by any means guaranteed, but I think with his DOB and SEN evidence we will have a strong case for him remaining in nursery for a further year.

The worst case is that they all refuse and we either have to put him in Reception in September, or have him start in Year 1 the following year.

Certain family members have been quite opinionated about all this, with many suggesting that we are making the wrong decision for DS, potentially damaging his chances in life! (I know)

We will, of course, pursue the SEN referrals once we’re settled too, it’s possible he has ASD but as we haven’t had a firm diagnosis yet I am wary of labelling him thus.

AIBU to ‘hold him back’? Has anyone experienced similar?

Beware, they said they were going to do it about 2 years ago I think but so far nothing has changed, it's a postcode lottery.

OP there is a Facebook group called Flexible admissions for summerborns that is really useful

Just asking, what happens when they do start school then- do they go to reception or straight to year 1? And as a pp asked, what happens with high school? Because around here, you have to go into the correct year group, so would that mean possibly missing a year (if they were a year behind in primary?). Sorry it's just I've heard of this but have never come accross it before.

Fwiw, I would say that there is a massive difference between children in reception (ex teacher), and just because they are summerborn doesn't mean they will struggle. My eldest dc is a July baby, and he was already reading and writing in nursery, but then my youngest a Jan baby, a whole different story! (No sen, just why do I need to write when I can be running around?! Type)

You know your own children, and what you think will be best for them, but I would suggest having a chat with their nursery, any clubs they do etc to see what others suggest.

Hope it all goes well!! As they say, one step at a time!

Yes do join flexible school admissions for sunmerborns, I did as soon as I found out I was pregnant with a sunmerborn.

Starting school at 4 is bloody ridiculously young! We've moved to Hertfordshire who have a blanket acceptance policy if the school is ran by the local authority but if it's an academy you need their agreement.

Do it! My DS is only 2 and a half so I've been planning to do this for a long time! I'd delay even without any SEN / delays.

Also it is not a definite that they would have to go to secondary school a year early at all! It's all about what's in the best interest of the child, which of course isn't to miss a year of school! Someone in my primary who was summerborn had to, but we're talking 25 years ago!

I have a friend with a summer born son who had mild speech delay and he started reception a year later. It was the right choice for him. By the time he started school he could socialise much better and I think that is SO important. I cannot see how it could negatively affect him? If he had been born a matter of hours later this is what you would be doing without anyone batting an eyelid.

But coldilox - what happens if you move to a different area of the country? Your lea might have guaranteed it, but a diffferent lea might not.

I did it but my dd has severe LDs and so I didn’t have to fight for it and it was defo best for her. My advice would be to get in writing from the LA what it means for his whole education. Our dd had a statement (now ehcp) which says the deferral applies throughout her whole education.

My friend is also a reception class teacher and she planned her last pregnancy to have a sept baby. He arrived 31 August and she will definitely be applying for a deferral for him just because she thinks it’s best, no sn in his case.

Good luck!

@rossigigi They would start in reception. And again it is unlikely to be forced to miss a year as it would not be in best interests of the the child.

My DS could hit 3 and turn into a child genius, I would still delay as my concern is emotional readiness not how good a 4 year old is at reading or writing or whatever.

Can people stop asking if it’s possible to defer entry? I really feel like I’m repeating myself a lot by saying you can. I’ve contacted the LEA for the area we live and they accept deferred entry, allowing the child to remain with the cohort throughout their education.

The question I was asking was AIBU to consider it.

arethereanyleft - we would apply for him to start in his adopted cohort. It would at that point be for the head to decide which year group he should be educated in. But if they wanted him to skip a year this would have to be done in consultation with us, and they would have to show it was in his best interests. I'm reasonably confident they wouldn't be able to do that. Besides, I wouldn't move to an area that refused.

I should point out here too that DS is in nappies, and shows no signs of readiness to toilet train atm.

I think you know your child best so absolutely YANBU in deferring his school start now sensible flexible entry arrangements are possible. The date cut off date for year groups are arbitrary and do not take account of any individual needs.

I would definitely defer if you can. We deferred DS1 which was easily done as we are in Scotland and we don’t regret it. DA2 was 6 months younger when starting and you can really see the difference, although he is a different child of course.

Go with your gut and defer.

You mentioned the 11+ in the area that you’re moving into - can he apply when he’s 12+? That could be a sticking point.

You might want to search for @prh47bridge on here - they seem to be very knowledgable about these things.

Do it! It may be that some of the SEN concerns fade as he grows older. A member of our family did the same as they’ve been guaranteed he’ll still be allowed to start reception this September and he’s a 24 Aug Birthday.

Having said that, we have two children in school in nappies, one in reception and one in year 1 (both with SEN). With the right care plan in place it shouldn’t be a problem.

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/458797/Nick-Gibb-open-letter-summer-born-children-admissions.pdf

YANBU. In fact it sounds like your DS will benefit by being more "school ready". Have a look at the letter attached for more information.

We did this with late August born dd (now 12). She had delayed speech & language and it was just what she needed. She caught up and did well and started year 7 this year aged 12 & a few days. Our primary school headmaster wrote on our behalf to the heads of schools, both independent and state, that we were considering to ask their policy. He did this at the end of year 4 so that we would have time to consider our options depending on their replies. They all said that it was not a factor and she could stay with her adopted cohort. Both state and private schools in this area have a good number of pupils who, for various reasons, are not originally from the UK. This has made them more open-minded about the criteria for cohorts, not just birth dates.

My son wasn't ready for school, I delayed start for 3 years and he went straight into year 3. Within a term he had caught up, settled in really well but I know he was lucky as he had a wonderful teacher.

It didn't hold him back as he got great GCSE and A level results and a first class honours degree and is currently studying for a post grad qualification.

We didn't defer DS (mid-august) - and he was fine socially, and totally middling academically apart from a couple of things like handwriting, dressing himself, BUT it turns out he's dyspraxic, and following some school shenigans involving international schools and different year banding that meant he was between UK years when moving, we've decided to have him go into Y2 (technically holding him back a hear).

He's doing so much better for the extra year to work on his handwriting and maturity - I wouldn't hesitate if you don't think he's ready, all research shows that it's a good idea.

One of the biggest differences I have found between Scotland and England is the attitude towards deferrals.
In Scotland it appears much easier and is far more socially acceptable to wait until your child is ready to start school. I believe 13% of children are deferred in each year group.
It seems in England there is a push to say ‘my child is sooo ready’ and put them in as early as possible.*
I’d always wait to start school, not for how they cope now, but how they will cope when exams come round, especially in an area with 11+.
*(speaking from my own very Very limited experience of living in England for one year)

If you choose nursery make sure you choose one that gives him the right support and is clued up on sen/obtaining ng extra help because some are not.

maybe think about looking at a small school with mixed year classes .That would give him the option to gradually ytransition between one year group and the next rather than skipping a year and having a big jump.

There seems to be little knowledge of how deferring works with many LAs. In ours, you can defer for a year and start reception but only if there are spaces - if not, you risk your child being put in year one. You also need to get the agreement of the headteacher.

Our previous head supported it, our current head does not. It is not recommended by our educational psychology team due to having to catch up in secondary school. Don’t forget that children can have a part time timetable for as long as they need until they are 5.

In terms of toiletting, we have children that start with an intimate care plan.

I think you need to visit the schools and have a chat with the Head teachers before you decide.

Is deferral still done LEA by LEA then? I thought it was a nation wide change that went through a couple of years ago. That you can defer your Apr-Aug born child to simply start Reception a year later, and then they will just be a year behind all through school?

I had an August born and was so glad it was pre the deferral option because he was totally school ready but I would have felt loads of pressure to defer. In your position OP I would probably defer. It is my understanding that you apply as normal now, and then you can ask to defer any time up until next September so you can see how he goes until then.

As a Reception teacher though I would ask you not to leave it too late - we had a child defer around the middle of August this year, just when we had finished doing all the alphabetically arranged groups, labels, beautifully laminated lists, everything. It was minor but actually a big PITA to sort!

Also, you don't really want him to go to all the transition days etc. and then tell him he is not actually going. I think around May is a good time to decide, and there is still plenty of time before then.